Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Season of Change

Been out of pocket. Attended the Texas Catholic Conference last week in San Antonio. It was very informative, although the abundance of statistics was a bit overwhelming. Thank goodness for handouts.

We stayed at the Oblate Renewal Center, which I understand to be a place of spiritual renewal and reflection. The rooms, therefore, are quite bare. No television, no telephone, and certainly no internet. It was quiet, that is for sure!

***

There have been some changes in the counseling department at my agency, and tonight I said goodbye to some good friends. Change is inevitable, but it still hurts. It just does. One of the changes means I will have to find a new LPC supervisor as I complete my internship. Drat.

***

Speaking of change, BB is graduating! We are all proud of him. And.... I am in denial about the very real fact that he will eventually be leaving my department and pursuing his dream. Happy, happy, happy for him. Sad for me. He will be difficult to replace.

***

I'm learning a new song. The lyrics are simple, but they seem to fit:

You can spend your whole life buildin' something from nothin'
When a storm can come and blow it all away
Built it anyway

You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yes, I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singin' a song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Sing it anyway


I sing
I believe
I love
Anyway

***

I suppose for a parent there is no "easy" season, but Spring seems really hectic this time around. As the school year comes to a close, my calendar continues to fill up. TAKS tests, recitals, pictures, extra rehearsals, field trips, band try outs, choir concerts, talent shows. It is a lot to keep up with. I have the nagging feeling that I am forgetting something important.

I went to mother/daughter dance rehearsal (something that we do with our daughters in the recital each year) on Saturday. I love to dance. I desperately wanted to dance as a child, but the money wasn't there. I would walk to the studio with my friends after school and watch them through the two-way mirror. And I would emulate them from the lobby. I'm enjoying the opportunity to finally put these skills to good use.

***

Speaking of TAKS - the Not-So-Little One said that her teachers informed her that if she is commended on all three TAKS tests, they may recommend that she skip the 6th grade and advance to the 7th grade. (She was commended on the first two and awaits the final score.) Now, I haven't heard this from the horses' mouths, and I am a natural-born skeptic.

However, if it is true, we face something of a conundrum. I must admit I am ambivalent about this prospect. Okay, so she is academically advanced. Way cool! What parent wouldn't love to say that about their child? But she will be leaving some friends behind, and she is not the most outgoing kid in the world. And I'm not altogether sure she is emotionally ready to hang with 7th and 8th graders. 8th grade girls, in my opinion, are the devil.

I'm pretty convinced that all the book learnin' in the world isn't worth a hill of beans if a person doesn't know how to get along with those around her. I would love to hear what you think, reader.

2 comments:

BB said...

There's no replacing me, baby!

BB said...

But thank you for your kind words, mi patrona, mi amiga.